May 16

3 of Ohio’s favorite sons vie for Statuary Hall in D.C.

By Alan Johnson

The Columbus DispatchWednesday May 16, 2012 7:29 AM

After a two-year wait — and a behind-the-scenes challenge by the Wright Brothers — Thomas Alva Edison might finally be headed to Washington.

Maybe.

The Ohio Senate is expected to vote today on legislation that includes a notice to the U.S. Congress officially naming the Milan, Ohio, native as one of the state’s two representatives in the National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C. The other statue, of President James A. Garfield, will remain.

But the Edison measure must also be approved by the Ohio House, where Orville and Wilbur Wright still have a cadre of supporters.

House Speaker William G. Batchelder, R-Medina, offered no guarantees yesterday: “I have a significant number of members who would prefer the Wright Brothers. I’m not sure what our people want to do with that. Edison is a great man, no question about that.”
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/05/16/3-of-ohios-favorite-sons-vie-for-statuary-hall-in-d-c-.html

Ohio House passes ban on texting

State will become 39th to enact law when signed

By Jim Siegel

The Columbus DispatchWednesday May 16, 2012 6:14 AM

Though sponsors would have liked for the bill to be stronger, the House yesterday gave final approval to legislation that would ban texting while driving for adults and prohibit anyone under age 18 from using any electronic device while behind the wheel.

Ohio will become the 39th state to ban texting while driving once Gov. John Kasich signs House Bill 99. The House voted 82-12 to approve Senate changes to the bill.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/05/16/house-passes-ban-on-texting.html

Ohio House approves 7 new license plate designs

Posted: 05/15/2012
Last Updated: 21 hours and 28 minutes ago

• By: Elizabeth Misson, newsnet5.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio may have some new license plate designs soon, as the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 339 on Tuesday creating seven new plates.

Five of the plates would be available to the general public and four of the plates require a payment that would go towards the organization featured on the plate. (All contributions toward the select four plates include a $15-$25 fee to the License Plate Contribution Fund and a $10 BMV fee).

“I think this bill pays tribute to Ohio’s spirit and heritage,” House Speaker William G. Batchelder said in a press release. “These license plates showcase our state’s great history, as well as recognize the countless Ohioans who admirably served our country in uniform.”
http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/state/ohio-house-approves-7-new-license-plate-designs#ixzz1v3tEQznM

Texting Bill Going to Kasich

Hannah Report 3/15/12

The House signed off on changes to a ban on texting while driving Tuesday despite the sponsors' opposition to a Senate provision to make it a secondary offense.

Reps. Nancy Garland (D-Columbus) and Rex Damschroder (R-Fremont) urged their colleagues to approve of Senate changes to HB99, which would make texting while driving a secondary offense, meaning a law enforcement officer would have to witness another violation such as speeding before pulling someone over. It also bans the use of electronic devices while driving by those under the age of 18.

Garland shared the stories of those in the audience who had pushed for passage of the bill after a family member was killed by a distracted driver. She said it is her hope that the bill will prevent other stories from occurring such as those. http://www.hannah.com/DesktopDefaultPublic.aspx?type=hns&id=189411

House Sends Driver Texting Ban To Governor's Desk, Moves Five Other Measures

The House took final action Tuesday on a bill to ban texting while driving and impose even more restrictions on teenage drivers, sending it to Gov. John Kasich for his expected signature.

Stalled for months in the Senate over enforcement and libertarian concerns, the bill (HB 99 ) cleared the upper chamber recently with some significant changes that nonetheless were accepted by the House on an 82-12 vote.

Rep. Nancy Garland (D-New Albany), a key proponent of the law change who has been working the issue for years, recounted some of the tragic stories of auto crash deaths caused by distracted drivers that lawmakers have heard during deliberations on the bill, saying she hoped it would serve to put a halt to such incidents.

The perseverance of the supporters helped push the bill forward to its enactment, she said. "They each have a personal story of how texting while driving has tragically impacted their lives and it is my sincere hope that the passage of the bill will ensure less stories (such as) those shared with us by supporters."

http://www.gongwer-oh.com/programming/news.cfm?article_ID=810940203